Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment

Robinson, C. T.; Tonolla, Diego; Imhof, B.; Vukelic, R.; Uehlinger, U.

doi:10.21256/zhaw-3716

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716

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DC Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Robinson, C. T.	-
dc.contributor.author	Tonolla, Diego	-
dc.contributor.author	Imhof, B.	-
dc.contributor.author	Vukelic, R.	-
dc.contributor.author	Uehlinger, U.	-
dc.date.accessioned	2018-06-08T11:58:39Z	-
dc.date.available	2018-06-08T11:58:39Z	-
dc.date.issued	2015	-
dc.identifier.issn	1015-1621	de_CH
dc.identifier.issn	1420-9055	de_CH
dc.identifier.uri	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/6685	-
dc.description	Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)	de_CH
dc.description.abstract	Relatively little is known regarding the extent of intermittent streams or the general ecology of headwaters in alpine catchments with glacial influence. This study quantified the contribution of intermittent streams to the total length of the stream network along with an ecological assessment during spring-summer of headwater streams (higher than 1,900 m above sea level) in the Val Roseg, a high Alpine glacial catchment. Stream network mapping revealed that ca. 90 % (76.8 km) of the drainage network consisted of intermittent streams. Glacier-fed headwaters experienced diel surface flows in late spring and summer, most going dry during the night due to reduced glacial inputs. In contrast, groundwater-fed streams often went dry in summer with the contraction of groundwater and other subsurface inputs. A principal components analysis of physico-chemical characteristics revealed headwaters to be primarily glacial-fed (kryal), groundwater-fed (krenal), or having a mixed water source. Although quite variable, periphyton biomass reached high levels (ca. 40 mg m-2 chla, 10 g m-2 AFDM) by late spring in most headwaters. Organic matter in transport (seston) ranged from 0.03 to 0.09 mg L-1 mostly consisting of fine particulate organic matter (FPOM: 33–76 %). Hyporheic sediment respiration rates varied considerably, ranging from 0.005 to 0.126 mg O2 h-1 kg-1 sediment and primarily related to the amount of loosely attached organic matter. These results indicate that intermittent streams are predominant in alpine landscapes, comprising mostly 1st to 2nd order systems, and that ecosystem properties vary substantially among headwater streams likely in relation to annual/daily changes in flow and water source. Such headwaters may contribute strongly to the production, processing and transport of organic matter to downstream waters, especially in light of the expected increase in intermittent streams in alpine catchments experiencing rapid glacial recession.	de_CH
dc.language.iso	en	de_CH
dc.publisher	Springer	de_CH
dc.relation.ispartof	Aquatic Sciences	de_CH
dc.rights	Licence according to publishing contract	de_CH
dc.subject	Function	de_CH
dc.subject	Glacier	de_CH
dc.subject	Hydrology	de_CH
dc.subject	Intermittent stream	de_CH
dc.subject	Sediment respiration	de_CH
dc.subject	Organic matter	de_CH
dc.subject.ddc	551: Geologie und Hydrologie	de_CH
dc.title	Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment	de_CH
dc.type	Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher Zeitschrift	de_CH
dcterms.type	Text	de_CH
zhaw.departement	Life Sciences und Facility Management	de_CH
zhaw.organisationalunit	Institut für Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen (IUNR)	de_CH
dc.identifier.doi	10.21256/zhaw-3716	-
dc.identifier.doi	10.1007/s00027-015-0434-3	de_CH
zhaw.funding.eu	No	de_CH
zhaw.issue	2	de_CH
zhaw.originated.zhaw	Yes	de_CH
zhaw.pages.end	341	de_CH
zhaw.pages.start	327	de_CH
zhaw.publication.status	publishedVersion	de_CH
zhaw.volume	78	de_CH
zhaw.embargo.end	2021-05-01	de_CH
zhaw.publication.review	Peer review (Publikation)	de_CH
zhaw.webfeed	Ökohydrologie	de_CH
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Life Sciences und Facility Management

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Robinson, C. T., Tonolla, D., Imhof, B., Vukelic, R., & Uehlinger, U. (2015). Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment. Aquatic Sciences, 78(2), 327–341. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716

Robinson, C.T. et al. (2015) ‘Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment’, Aquatic Sciences, 78(2), pp. 327–341. Available at: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716.

C. T. Robinson, D. Tonolla, B. Imhof, R. Vukelic, and U. Uehlinger, “Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment,” Aquatic Sciences, vol. 78, no. 2, pp. 327–341, 2015, doi: 10.21256/zhaw-3716.

ROBINSON, C. T., Diego TONOLLA, B. IMHOF, R. VUKELIC und U. UEHLINGER, 2015. Flow intermittency, physico-chemistry and function of headwater streams in an Alpine glacial catchment. Aquatic Sciences. 2015. Bd. 78, Nr. 2, S. 327–341. DOI 10.21256/zhaw-3716

Robinson, C. T., Diego Tonolla, B. Imhof, R. Vukelic, and U. Uehlinger. 2015. “Flow Intermittency, Physico-Chemistry and Function of Headwater Streams in an Alpine Glacial Catchment.” Aquatic Sciences 78 (2): 327–41. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716.

Robinson, C. T., et al. “Flow Intermittency, Physico-Chemistry and Function of Headwater Streams in an Alpine Glacial Catchment.” Aquatic Sciences, vol. 78, no. 2, 2015, pp. 327–41, https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-3716.